Ice tray



R. s. GAUGLER ETAL 2,772,542

Dec. 4, 1956 ICE TRAY 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1955 2.2. THEIR ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1956 R. s. GAUGLER ET AL 2,772,542

ICE TRAY 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1955 INVENTOR.

TH Ell? ATTQRNEY Dec. 4, 1956 R. s. GAUGLER ET AL 2,772,542

ICE TRAY Filed March 14, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

THEIR ATTORNEY 1956 R. s. GAUGLER ET AL 2,772,542

ICE TRAY Filed March 14, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 THEIR ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1956 R. s. GAUGLER ET AL 2,772,542

ICE TRAY Filed March 14, 1955 e Sheets-Sheet 5 THEIR ATTORNEY Filed March 14, 1955 R. S. GAUGLER ETAL ICE TRAY 6-;Sheets-Shet 6 INVENTORS azza" @Zar/ @2522.

THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent ICE TRAY Richard S. Gaugler andRobert Galin, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application March 14, 1955, SerialNo. 494,085

12 'Claims. (Cl. 62-105) This inventionrelates to refrigeration and particularly to an arrangement for releasing ice blocks from ice freezing devicesof the tray and-grid type.

This application is a; continuation-in-part. of our copending application S. N. 484,524, filed January 27, 1955, entitled fRefrigerating Apparatus.

An object of ourinvention is to provide an improved arrangement for freezing water int-o ice blocks, cubes or cubelets, in a freezing compartment of a household refrigerator and a novel methodlfor releasing the blocks from their freezing device in substantially dry form for storage in.a receptacle inthe refrigerator until they are harvested therefrom for table or other use.

Another object of .our. invention isvto provide means for receiving an iceblocle freezing device or tray which means is rendered effective automatically in response to moving the-tray therealong while associated therewith for-releasing ice bloeksfrom the tray.

Another object of our invention" is: to provide a: stas tionary elongated track-like support in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator which is adapted tot receive, in inverted position, an ice. block freezing device of the tray and grid type through an open end thereof and which is so constructed and arranged as to be rendered effective for releasing ice blocks from the device solely by the act of placing the device in association with and moving same along the support.

A further object of our invention is to provide an ice blockremoving means for a unitary freezing'device of the type including a distortable tray having rigid grid walls loosely anchored therein for shifting movement relative thereto when the tray is twisted which receives the deviceby moving same therealong and insures that ice blocks in the device will not be released therefrom until it is moved to a position adjacent the end of the means whereby ice blocks will be dumped from the freezing device into a storage receptacle located thereoelowwithout danger of missing the receptacle.

A still further object of our inventionis to provide track portions on the support or ice block releasing means for receiving a unitary freezing device with oppositely directed curved sections whereby movement of the device into and along the track portions will flex or twist a distortable metallic tray'of the device first in one direction and then in another direction to shift rigid walls loosely anchored in the tray relative to one another and relative to the tray for insuring the release of ice blocks both from walls of the grid and the tray.

In carrying out the foregoing objects, it is a st-illfurther and more important object of our invention to provide oppositely curved sections in track portions of a support of an ice block removing means for flexing a distortable resilient tray of a unitary freezing device and imparting a twist to the tray to break the bond between the device and ice blocks therein and to form onorin at least one of the track portions of the removing-means a relief part. which receives armeans on'the tray of the device upon moving the device in one direction along erence being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred: formwof the present invention is clearly shown;

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front" view of amultiple compartment householdrefrigerator" cabinetwith its doors open and showing our invention embodiedin the freezing compart ment thereof;

Figure 2 isa. perspective view of a-freezing device of thetray and grid. type employed in the presently disclosed apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing tracks on an elongated stationary support adapted to receive in inverted position the tray disclosed in Figure Zfilled with ice blocks;

Figure 4 is a fragmentarvsectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3-showing a freezing device in an inverted position with separated ice blocks bonded thereto: inserted in'th'e ice block releasingmeans of the present apparatus prior to twisting thetray thereof;

Figure '5 is a fragmentary sectional view similarto Figurew4 and is taken onthe line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing the freezing device after having been pushed a substantial distance into the releasing support to twist the tray there of in one direction;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional viewsimilar to Figure 5- and is taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3'showingthe freezing device aft'erhaving-been pushed all-the way into'thereleasing support to twist the tray thereof in another direction;

Figure 7 'is-a phantom sectional view similar to Figures 4,5", and 6 showing'the tray ofthe freezing device in three different positions;

Figure 8 is an enlargedsecti'onal view taken on the liners-8 of=Figure2 showing a means on the tray ofthe freezing device-adapted to'engage tracks of the releasing support; c

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2 showing the mounting of a handle on thetray;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line: 10-10of Figure 2 showing the tray handle interlocked to ant end wall of the-tray;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the'line: 11-11 of Figure 2 showing the mounting of a gridwall to: the tray of a freezingdevice;

Figure 12. is: a front viewof a-ditferent version of a ultiple compartment household refrigerator cabinet with its doors open showing our invention incorporated inthe lower freezing compartment thereof;

Figure: l3'is a" perspective view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of a unit ary freezing device for association with ai modified: ice block releasing means employed in the refrigerator disclosed. 'in- Figure 12;

Figure 14 istan 'enlargedlvertical sectional view taken onv the line l4-l4 of Figure 12 showing a looped track om the line 15-15 ofi F-i-gure 12 showing a track on the other of the opposed stationary: freezing device supports of the modified ice-block releasing means;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view takenson' the line 16-16 of Figures -14 and 15 showing a freez- J ing device in an inverted position with ice blocks therein supported from the two opposed stationary supports of the modified ice block releasing means;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 16 and taken on the line 17-17 of Figures 14 and 15 showing the freezing device after having been pushed into and along the rel-easing support a sufficient distance to flex and impart a twist to the tray thereof;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figures 16 and 17 showing the twist torsion of the tray of the freezing device released and ice blocks removed therefrom;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figures 16, 17, and 18 showing the freezing device readied for removal from the supports; and

Figure 20 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of Figure 13 showing a structure for movably locking grid walls in the tray of the modified unitary freezing device.

Referring to the drawings, we show in Figured thereof a refrigerating apparatus including an insulated household refrigerator cabinet 15 of the multiple compartment type having the present invention embodied in one of the compartments thereof. Cabinet 15 is provided with a lower unfrozen food storage compartment .16 which is cooled to a temperature above 32 F. by an evaporator (not shown) of a refrigerating system associated with cabinet 15 in any suitable and now well-known manner. An insulated door structure 17 hingedly mounted on cabinet 15 normally closes the access opening of compartment 16. Cabinet 15 is also provided with an upper freezing or frozen food storage compartment 18 which is cooled to a temperature well below 32 F. for the storage of frozen foods, for freezing foods and/ or for freezing water into ice blocks for table use in chilling drinks in glasses. Compartment 1'8 is refrigerated by an evaporator (not shown) of the refrigerating system associated with cabinet 15 which evaporator may be coiled about or wrapped around the outside of a metal can-like mem- 'ber 19 forming the liner of compartment 18. An insulated door structure 21, separate from door '17, is hingedly mounted on cabinet '15 and normally closes the front access opening of compartment 18. A plurality of metal shelves or sleeve-like members 23 are secured, in any suitable manner, directly to a side wall of liner 19 so as to be in intimate metal-to-metal contact therewith. Each of the shelves 23 is adapted to support a freezing device, represented by the reference character 24, of the type including a tray and a grid therein for containing water to be frozen into ice blocks.

The general construction of each of the freezing devices 24 is of the nature of the device disclosed in the copending application of Richard S. Gaugler, Serial Numher 438,897, filed June 24, 1954, now Patent No. 2,752,762 granted July 3, 1956, entitled Freezing Device. Each device 24 includes a distorta'ble aluminum or other suitable metal tray 25 having a depending rim 26 therearound and a plurality of rigid metal or molded plastic tapered walls 27 forming a grid therein. Walls 27 of the grid within tray 25 are provided with small ear-like projections 28 loosely rfitted in vertically elongated depressions or dimples 29 formed in the inclined sides of tray 25 (see Figure 1'1). The projections 28 fitting in the inwardly facing recesses 29 movably lock walls 27 within tray 2'5 against removal therefrom. The loose attaching points of walls 27 to tray 25 permit these walls to move a short distance ang'ularly relative to the tray in a direction along the length thereof and to also swing or rock about their anchor points, as is fully shown and described in the co-pending Gaugler application just referred to, when the tray is flexed and/or twisted by an ice block releasing means to be hereinafter explained. As far as the present invention is concerned, the interlocking of walls 27 to tray 25 could, if desired, be accomplished by stamping vertical elongated apertures or openings in the tray side walls for the reception of the grid wall projections 28. The present tray 25 is provided with a rigid, preferably molded, plastic, handle 31 for facilitating handling thereof. Screws 32 are employed to mount the handle 31 on one end of tray 25 (see Figures 2 and 9). The present tray 25 is also provided at its rear end with'a rig-id cross bar 33 secured to opposite long sides of a depending portion of rim 26 on the tray by the outwardly projecting studs 64 (see Figure 8). The purpose of studs 34 will become apparent herematter.

In accordance with this invention, we provide an ice block releasing means or device within the freezing or frozen food storage compartment 118 of cabinet 15. In order to provide this means or device we stationarily mount two elongated spaced apart opposed supports or rails 36 in the compartment 18 immediately below the lowermost tray shelf 23. An inverted U shaped metal member 37 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the metal element or elements forming the tray shelves 23. Screws '38 pass through openings in the sides of member 37 and are threaded into the rails 36 (see Figures 3 and 6) for rigidly mounting the rails thereto. These supports or rails 36 are preferably, 'although not necessarily, formed of molded plastic material of any desired and now well-known composition. Each of the opposed molded plastic rails 36 have a short boss or lip 35 formed integrally thereon :at the front thereof (see Figures 3 and 4). These tips 35 are adapted to be engaged by the rim of tray 25 of an inverted freezing device 24 so as to support same while moving it into the ice block releasing means. A rigid round metal or the like rod 39, having its ends anchored in sockets 41 provided in the rails 36 adjacent their front ends (see Figures 3 and 4), extends between the rails and forms a roller-like bearing adapted to cooperate with the lips 35 for a purpose to be presently described.

The stationary side by side supports of rails 36 are provided with rearwardly extending grooves, generally indicated by the reference numerals 43 and 44, forming opposed track portions of the ice block releasing means adapted to receive the studs 34 on bar 33. Grooves 43 and 44 in the opposed rails or supports 36 extend or are similarly inclined generally downwardly from the front thereof toward their rear dead ends 46 (see Figure 3). Groove or track portion 43 in the one or left hand rail or support 36 includes a substantially straight section 47, a downwardly curved section 48 and an upwardly directed section 49 adjacent its closed or dead end 46. The track portion 44 of the other or right hand rail or support 36 includes a substantially straight section 51, an upwardly curved section 52 and a downwardly directed section 53 (see Figure 3) adjacent the closed or dead end 46 thereof. The part of each of the straight sections 47 and 51 of grooves or track portions 43 and 44 located at the front of rails 36 are slightly inclined in opposite directions relative to one another. The space between rails 36 provide the support with an open front end into which a freezing device 24 is insertable, in an inverted position, and is adapted to be manually pushed along the length of the support, rails 36, toward the rear of compartment 18. An ice block storage receptacle 56 (see Figures 1 and 3) is removably supported upon the bottom wall of freezing or frozen food compartment 18 beneath the ice block releasing means formed by the rails 36. Ice blocks or'cubes released from a freezing device 24, as will be presently described, are adapted to fall through the open bottom of the support between rails 36 and into the storage re ceptacle 56 within compartment 18. Such ice blocks are released in dry form and, consequently, do not bond or stick to one another when received in the receptacle 56 located in freezing compartment 18.

The tray 25 of a freezing device 24 is'filled with water and placed upon one of the shelves 23 until the water is hard frozen into ice blocks separated from one another in thetdevice: by the compartment forming walls 27'; When it is desired to harvest iceblocks from either'of the freez= I ing devices 24, such device is removed froma shelf 23,

rotated into an inverted position, and I then inserted into the open front end of the ice block releasing means or device located below shelves 23. In inserting the rear end of a device 24 or tray 2S'thereof into thereleasing'means studs 34, projecting outwardly from sidesof tray 25, are receivedin the straight sections 47 and 51 of the opposed grooves or track portions 43 and 44 respectively of the rails 36. At this time, and during pushing of the device 24 rearwardly along the length of rails 36, the flat bottom wall of tray 25 of inverted device 24- abuts and bears against the rod 39 and the rim of tray-25 abuts and bears against the lips 35 (see Figure 4). This holds the front portion of tray 25 against being twisted, as it is pushed into the releasing means, and renders this means effective to twist the rear portion only of the tray; As the studs 34 are advanced farther into grooves 43 and 44 of the ice block releasing'means, by pushing device 24 thereinto, and reach the lowest point of the curved section 48in groove 43 and the highest point of the curved section 52 in groove 44 the inner or rear end of inverted tray 25 of the freezing device 24 has a desired maximum twist in one direction imparted thereto (see Figure 5). This desiredmaximum twist of tray 25 causesthe tray walls as well as walls 27 of the grid therein to move or shift relative to one another to break the bondbetween ice blocks in the device 24 and walls of the tray and grid. However, the ice blocks in inverted device 24, even though their ice bonds are broken, may not, at this time, fallout of the device because they are momentarily-wedgedor locked within the ice block compartments of'the device. Further twisting and particularly twisting of the distortable metal tray 25 in another or opposite direction is required before the loosened ice blockswill fall out of the inverted freezing'device 24; Thus, continued pushing movement of the inverted device 24 into or along and toward the rear of the releasing means causes the studs 34 to simultaneously travel upwardly in the'upwardly di rected section 49 of groove 43 and downwardly in the downwardly directed section 53 of groove 44 whereupon the tied together studs 34 move into horizontal alignment with one another prior to reaching the dead ends 46 ofthe opposed grooves for reversing the initial twist of tray 25. This reverse of tray 25 of the inverted freezing device 24 returns same to its normal non-twistedposition (see Figure 7). The ice blocks in compartments of" the device may or may not now fall freely out of the inverted freezing device 24, because some of the blocks will inherently tend to stick to walls of the traypand/or walls of the grid therein. Continued or final movement of the freezing device 24 rearwardly into the releasing means causes the studs 34 to simultaneously travel further up in section 49 of groove 43 and down in section 53 of groove 44 and shifts these studs into a position against the dead end 46 of the sections 49 and 53 respectively of grooves or tracks 43 and 44 (see Figure 6). This final movement of studs on freezing device 24 twists the rear end of tray 25 in another or opposite direction to the direction of its initial twist to insure release of ice blocks from the freezing device. During thisfinal twisting of tray 25 walls 27 of the grid therein are bodily shifted relative to one another and to walls of the tray to overcome any tendency of ice blocks locking 'or remaining in the inverted freezing device 24. The released ice blocks fall by gravity into the receptacle 56 within the frozen food compartment 18 wherein they are stored, at a below freezing temperature, until removed or harvested therefrom. It is to be understood that the forwardp'ortion of the tray bottom wall of the inverted freezing device 25 abuts against the round rod 39 and that the forward portion of the rim on the tray abuts against the lips 35 which at all times, during movementof thedeviceinto and along the length of the releasing means, holds the frontend portion of tray 25 against being twisted. The ice blocks are effectively and easily released from a freezing device 24 into storage receptacle 56 automatically in response to or solely by moving the tray 25 thereof into and along the length of the support or rails 36.

In order to more clearly illustrate the present invention, we show, by dot-dash lines, in Figure 7 of the drawings, the back end portion of a tray 25 of a freezing device 24 in three different positions as studs 34 thereon are moved rearwardly within the ice block'releasing means from a point intermediate the straight sections 47 and 41 and the dead ends 46 of the tracks or grooves 43 and 44.

The twisted position of the back end portion of tray 25,

indicated at A in Figure 7, corresponds to the one twisted position thereof shown in Figure 5 and the position of the back end portion of tray 25 indicated at B in Figure 7 corresponds to the opposite twisted position thereof shown in Figure 6. The position of the back portion of tray 25 indicated at C in Figure 7 is the position it takes when the opposed studs 34 thereon are in horizontal alignment within the upwardly and downwardly directed sections 49 and 53 of the grooves or tracks 43 and 44.

Referring now to Figures 12 to 20 of the drawings wherein we illustrate a modified version of our invention, there is shown in Figure 12 thereof a refrigerating apparatus including an insulated household refrigerator cabinet of the multiple compartment type having the modified form of ice block releasing means incorporated in one of the compartments thereof. Cabinet 115 is provided with an upper unfrozen food storage compartment 116 which is cooled to a temperature above 32 F. by an evaporator (not shown)v of a refrigerating system. associated with cabinet 115 in any suitable and now well-known manner. An insulated door structure 117, hingedly mounted on cabinet 115, normally closes the access opening of compartment 116. Cabinet 115 is also provided with a lower freezing or frozen food compartment 118 which is cooled to a temperature well below 32 F. for the storage of frozen foods, for freezing foods and/ or for freezing water into ice blocks for table use in chilling drinks in glasses or salads in dishes. Compartment 118 is refrigerated by an evaporator (not shown) of the refrigerating system associated with cabinet 115 which evaporator may be in the form of a conduit coiled or wrapped around the outside of a metal can-like member 119 providing the liner or walls of compartment 118. Another insulated door structure 121, hingedly mounted on cabinet 115, normally closes the front access opening of compartment 118. The freezing compartment 118 has an upper sliding shelf-like frame supported therein in any suitable or conventional manner and this shelf carries a wide shallow wire-like food storage basket 12-2 thereon. Another wire-like narrower and deeper basket 123 is slidably suspended in any suitable manner below basket 122 and has its bottom spaced from the bottom wall of compartment 118. The space below the suspended food storage basket 123 contains a plurality of unitary freezing devices, generally represented by thereference character 124, supported on the bottom wall of compartment 118 and constructed in accordance with our modification hereinafter described including, a tray and a grid therein for contain-ing water to be frozen into ice blocks. These devices 124 are supported in metal to metal contact upon the lower of'the walls 119 of compartment 118 and heat is withdrawn from them by the refrigerant evaporator conduit wrapped around this compartment.

Each freezing device 124 (see Figure 13) is substantially like the devices 24 and the material difference therebetween lies in the fact that we employ a modified arrangement to loosely anchor the transverse rigid walls 127'within the tray 125 thereof for movement relative thereto. The sides of tray 125 of unitary freezing device 1.24 are provided with spaced apart pierced vertb cally elongated openings 129 provided with a bounding flange 130 (see Figure 20). The sides of resilient metal tray 125 are sprung away from one another and the projection 128 on opposite ends of walls 127 are inserted into the openings 129 to loosely fit therein. Downturned rim 126 on tray 125 substantially conceals the openings 129 in the tray. A niche or groove 131 is formed in the underside of each projection 128 on walls 127 (see Figure 20) and a part of the metal flange 130 beneath the projection 128 is peened or bent into the niche 131 as at 132. A clearance space is provided between the flange 130, about openings 129, and the upper surface of the projection 128 so as not to impair the flexibility of tray 125 and so as to permit shifting movement of the rigid walls 127 relative to tray 125 when the tray is flexed or twisted. The bending of the lower part 132 of flange 130 into niche 131, at each of the loose attaching points of Walls 127 to tray 125, limits transverse movement of walls 127 relative to sides of the tray and prevents the projections 128 on the walls from slipping out of openings 129. Thus, the rigid walls .127 are locked in the resilient distortable metal tray 125 against removal therefrom to provide the modified unitary freezing devices 124. When the tray 125 of one of the freezing devices 124 is flexed and/or twisted, as will be hereinafter described, the rigid walls 127 locked therein move angularly relative thereto and also rock therein. The space in the openings 129 between the top of projections 128 and the upper part of flanges 130 permit such movement of walls 127 while the bent part 132 of flange 130 remains in association with a part of the niche 131. Pierced openings 129 in upright sides of tray 125 serve the double purpose of locking walls 127 therein and of permitting water placed in a device 124 up to a level above the openings to drain therefrom during filling of a freezing device and prior to inserting the same into the freezing compartment 118 of the refrigerator cabinet 115. These modified unitary freezing devices 124, like the devices 24, are also provided with the handle 31 and cross bar 33 having the studs 34 rigidly secured to the ends of this bar.

In accordance with our invention, We provide a modified ice block releasing means or device adapted to receive the modified form of freezing devices 124 just described. This ice block releasing means or device includes two stationarily mounted elongated spaced apart opposed supports or rails 136. The supports or rails 136 are each rigidly secured to an inverted substantially U-shaped metal bracket member 137 by screws or bolts 138 (see Figures 14, 15, and 17). Bracket 137 is rigidly secured within the lower freezing or frozen food storage compartment 118 of cabinet 115 by being clamped or otherwise suitably attached to the upright side wall of can-like liner member 119. The one leg of inverted U-shaped bracket 137 rests on the lowermost of the walls 119 and may be rigidly secured thereto (see Figure 12). The supports or rails 136 are preferably formed of molded plastic material. and are mounted so as to be slightly inclined downwardly from the front to the rear portion of compartment 118 for facilitating placing a freezing device 124 into association therewith at the lower front part of cabinet 115. An integral round boss or lip 135 is formed on the front portion of the right hand support or rail 136 (see Figures and 16) and projects inwardly therefrom. This round lip or boss 135 is adapted to be engaged by the rim of tray 125 of an inverted freezing device 124 so as to support the tray during the act of moving it into and along the length of the modified ice block releasing means. A round rotatable metal or the like rod 139 (see Figures l4, l5, and 16), has its ends anchored in bores or sockets 141 (see Figure 16) provided in the rails 136 adjacent their front ends, extends between these rails and forms a roller-like bearing adapted to cooperate with lips or boss 135 for a purpose to be presently described.

The side by side stationary supports or rails 136 are provided with rearwardly extending grooves forming opposed track portions which are of a modified configuration as compared to the track portions in the rails 36. The left hand support or rail 136 of the ice block releasing means as viewed in Figure 12 of the drawings and as illustrated in Figure 14 is provided with a grooved track which is in the form of a loop. This grooved track includes a wide entrance or mouth portion 142 at the front of rail 136, a straight portion 143 extending rearward from mouth portion 142, an upwardly directed portion 144, a downwardly directed relief or release loop portion or part 145 and a forwardly extending return portion 146. The return portion 146 of the track in the left hand support disclosed in Figure 14 of the drawings is provided with an exit opening portion 147 at the front of the looped track. The exit opening portion 147 is downwardly inclined away from mouth portion 142 so as to insure that a freezing device will be inserted in the ice block releasing means through the wide entrance mouth portions of the tracks on the rails 136. The other or right hand support or rail 136 of the ice block releasing means as viewed in Figure 12 of the drawings and as illustrated in Figure 15 is provided with a dead-end grooved track. This grooved track also includes a wide entrance or mouth portion 148 at the front of opposed rail 136, a straight portion 149 and a downwardly directed rear portion 151. It is here to be understood that the opposed supports or rails 136 are so mounted within compartment 118 as to locate the mouth portions 142 and 148 and the straight portions 143 and 149 of the grooved tracks in parallel opposed aligned relationship with one another. It is also to be understood that the upper and lower walls of the tracks in rails 136 at certain points therealong may be bevelled so as not to interfere with or create binding of the studs 34 while a unitary freezing device is being removed from the ice block releasing means. It is to be appreciated that while Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings are reversed with respect to one another the mouth portions 142 and 148 of the tracks in rails 136 are both at the front of the ice block releasing means. This arrangement in the modified form of ice block releasing means, over the releasing means disclosed in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, constitutes a novel improvement in that it prevents any twisting of the tray 125 of a freezing device 124 until the device is moved substantially all the way into the releasing means for the purpose as will be hereinafter described. The space between opposed rails 136 provide the ice block releasing means with an open front end into which a unitary freezing device 124 is insertable, in an inverted position, and is adapted to be manually pushed or moved along the length of the grooved tracks in the rails toward the rear of compartment 118. An ice block receiving and storage receptacle 156 is removably supported upon the bottom wall of compartment 118 beneath the ice block releasing means formed by the rails 136. Ice blocks released from an inverted freezing device 124 are adapted to freely fall through the open bottom of the releasing means into receptacle 156 for storage therein within compartment 118.

Water is run into the tray of a unitary freezing device 124 and establishes a level in tray near the top of walls 127. Any excessive amount of water will flow from tray 125 through the openings 129 in its sides. The freezing device 124 is then placed upon the bottom wall of compartment 118 until the water is hard-frozen into ice blocks separated from one another in the device by the compartment forming walls 127. As it becomes desirable to harvest ice blocks from one of the unitary freezing devices 124 such device is withdrawn from compartment 118, rotated into an inverted position, and then its rear end is inserted into or placed in association with the open front end of the ice block releasing means or device located in compartment 118. While the device 124 is held by the handle 31 in this association with the releasing means the studs 34' on front thereof is wedged against the bearing rod 139 (see Figure 16). in thismanner the front of tray 125 of a device 124 is held against being twisted as the device is advanced into or along the ice block releasing means, rails 136, and the releasing means is therefore effective to flex and impart a twist to the rear portion only of the tray of a device 124; As a device 124 is pushed into the releasing means the studs 34 on rod 33 travel along the straight aligned grooved portions 143 and 149 respectively of the opposed supporting rails 136 without imparting any twist to either end of the tray thereof. Further movement of the device 124 along or' into the supports of the ice block releasing means simultaneouslyforces stud 34 at one side of the device upwardly in the raised track portion 144 of the one rail 136 and the stud 34 at the other side ofthe device downwardly in the downward directed track portion 151 in the opposed rail 136. The rod 33con'necting the studs 34 thus flexes tray 125 and imparts a desired maximum twist to the rear end thereof (see- Figure 17). This twist causes the rigid walls 127to shiftor move relative to one another and relative to the tray to break the bond between the device and ice blocks therein. The freezing device 124 is near the end of its travel along the ice blockreleasing means but the loosened ice blocks remain locked in the device due. to its being twisted. Final rearward movement of the freezing device intothe ice block releasing means causes the stud.34 on the one side of tray 125 to come into vertical alignmentwith the relief part 145' of the one grooved track. The force exerted on this stud by the twistedtray now causes the same to suddenly drop'downwardl'y into the reliefpart 145 of the track to quickly release the torsion of the tray 125. This quick release causes the twisted tray to movewith a snap action back into its normal non-flexed state (see Figure 18). The snap action of tray 1125 is utilized to flip ice blocks out of the device 124 while the same is supported from the ice block releasing'means or support whereupon the ice blocks fall freely into the storage receptacle 156. It is to be understood that when the twisted tray 125 begins to return to its normal non-flexed state ice blocks in the device 124 are-no longer wedged or locked in their compartments and canbe readily flipped out of the freezing device because the ice bond between same and the blocks had been previously broken by the twisting of the tray. After the ice block releasing operation has been carried out the emptied freezing device 124 may be removed from the ice block releasing means or rails 136. By pulling on handle 31 thedevice 124is moved forwardly out of compartment 118 away from the ice block releasing means and during this movement the one stud 34 on rod'33 rides along the return portion 146 of the looped track in the one rail 136' (see Figure 19). While the ice block removing operation is being carried out, the front portion of a freezing device 1241s prevented from being twisted by the tray 125 thereof being wedged between the boss 135andthe roller bearing 139. Since ice blocks are not flipp'edout ofthe tray of a device 124 until the device has been pushed substantially the entire distance into the ice block releasing means there is little likelihood of ice blocks missing the receptacle 156 in which they are to be stored.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that we have provided a novel refrigeratingapparatus and a means or device therein for simultaneously-releasingall ice blocks from an ice block forming device thereof whereby the blocks may be stored at a sub-freezing temperatureuntil harvested from the refrigerator cabinet.

Our invention enables the user of-atrefrig'erator to release and store, in

unitary structure and, consequently, a removable grid does not become misplaced necessitating searching therefore when artray is to be filled with water and frozen into ice blocks.

While the forms of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed. constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, an elongated support having an open end, aunitary freezing device including a distortable tray and a plurality of rigid walls therein, said rigid walls having a point of: loose attachment to said tray for movement with respect thereto, said loose attachment point of saidiwalls to the tray locking said walls therein against removal therefrom, said walls dividing the interior of said: tray into compartments in which water is to be frozen intoseparated. ice blocks, said tray of said'device and wallslocatedtherein together with ice blocks in said compartments being inserta'ble as a unit into said elongated support in an inverted position through the open endthere'of, means on the tray of said unitary device for engaging portions of i said support, said means cooperating with said portions of said support and rendered effective automaticallyin response to moving said device in' i one direction alongsaidsupport for flexing and imparting atwist to said" tray to bodily shift saidwalls relative there to about their loose attaching points and break the bond betweenice blocks and their compartments, and means rendered. effective by continued movement of said device in said one direction along said support beyond the position of saididevice'atwhich the tray thereof is twisted for quickly releasing the torsion of said tray while the device is supported in said support to flip ice blocks out of said unitary freezing device.

2. In. combination, an elongated support, a distortable' resilient tray adapted to be moved in an inverted position into supported association with said support, said tray containing a plurality of separated ice blocks bonded thereto, means on said tray for engaging portions of said support, said means cooperating with said portions of said support and rendered effective automatically in response to: moving the tray along the support for flexing and imparting a twist to said tray to break the bond between it and ice blocks therein, and stationary means, on said support rendered effective solely by continued movement of said tray into and along said support beyond the position thereof at'which the tray is twisted for releasing the torsion of said tray and causing it to flip with a snap action back into a non-flexed state whereby ice blocks are tossed therefrom while the tray is supported from said support.

3'. In combination, an elongated support, a-distortable resilient metal tray adapted to be moved in an inverted position into supported association with said support, said tray containing a plurality of separated ice blocks bonded thereto, means on saidtray for engaging portions of said support, said means cooperating with said portions of said support and rendered effective automatically in response to moving the tray in one direction along the support for flexing and imparting a twist to said resilient tray to break the bond between it and ice blocks therein, at least one of said portions of said support having a stationary relief par-t adapted to receive said means on saidtray, and said means on said tray entering said relief p'a'rt ofsaid one" portion of said support in response to continued movement of said tray along said support in said one direction beyond the position thereof at which the tray is twisted for quickly releasing the torsion of said tray and causing a snap action thereof while supported from said support to flip ice blocks out of the tray.

4. In combination, an elongated support, a unitary freezing device adapted to be moved in an inverted position into supported association with said support, said unitary device comprising a resilient distortable tray having rigid walls loosely anchored therein for movement with respect thereto, the anchoring of said walls to said tray locking the walls therein against removal therefrom, said device containing a plurality of separated ice blocks bonded thereto, means on the tray of said freezing device for engaging portions of said support, said means on said tray cooperating with said portions of said support and rendered effective automatically in response to moving the device along said support for flexing and imparting a twist to said tray to bodily shift said walls relative thereto and break the bond between ice blocks and said device, and means rendered effective by continued movement of said device along said support beyond the position of said device at which the tray is twisted for releasing the torsion of said tray whereby it moves with a snap action back into a substantially non-flexed state to flip ice blocks out of said device while the device is supported from said support.

5. In combination, an elongated support, opposed stationary tracks on said support, a freezing device including a flexible tray and rigid walls therein having points of loose attachment to said tray locking same thereto against removal therefrom, said walls dividing the interior of said tray into compartments in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks, said tray of said device and walls locked therein together with ice blocks in said compartments being movable in an inverted position into supported association with said support, means on said tray of said device for engaging the opposed tracks on said support, said means cooperating with one portion of said tracks and rendered effective solely in response to pushing said device in one direction along the support for twisting said tray and bodily shifting said rigid walls therein relative thereto about their loose attaching points to break a bond between ice blocks and walls of said compartments, and said means on said tray cooperating with another portion of said tracks and rendered effective in response to continued pushing of said device along the support in said one direction for causing said flexible tray to return to a non-twisted state while supported on said support whereby the ice blocks may fall by gravity out of said device.

6. In combination, an elongated support, opposed stationary tracks on said support, a freezing device including a flexible tray and rigid walls therein having points of loose attachment to said tray locking same thereto against removal therefrom, said walls dividing the interior of said tray into compartments in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks, said tray of said device and walls locked therein together with ice blocks in said compartments being movable in an inverted position into supported association with said support, means on one end only of the tray of said device and extending outwardly from sides thereof for engaging the opposed tracks on said support, a storage receptacle disposed below said support, said means cooperating with one inclined portion of said tracks and rendered effective solely in response to pushing said device in one direction along the support for twisting said one end of said tray and bodily shifting said rigid walls therein relative thereto about their loose attaching points to break a bond between ice blocks and walls of said compartments, and said means on said one end of said tray cooperating with another inclined portion of said tracks and rendered effective in response to continued pushing of said device along the support in said one direction for causing said flexible tray to return to a non-twisted state while supported in said inverted position on said support whereby the ice blocks may fall by gravity from said device into said receptacle,

7. In combination, an elongated support, opposed stationary tracks on said support, a freezing device including a flexible tray and rigid walls therein having points of loose attachment to said tray locking same thereto against removal therefrom, said walls dividing the interior of said tray into compartments in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks, said tray of said device and walls locked therein together with ice blocks in said compartments being movable in an inverted position into supported association with said support, means on one end only of the tray of said device and extending outwardly from sides thereof for engaging the opposed tracks on said support, a storage receptacle disposed below said support, said means cooperating with one inclined portion of said tracks and rendered effective solely in response to pushing said device in one direction along the support for twisting said one end of said tray and bodily shifting said rigid walls therein relative thereto about their loose attaching points to break a bond between ice blocks and walls of said compartments, and said means on said one end of said tray cooperating with another inclined portion of said tracks and rendered effective in response to continued pushing of said device along the support in said one direction beyond the position at which the tray is twisted for causing said flexible tray to flip with a snap action back into a non-twisted state while said device is supported in said inverted position on said support to toss ice blocks out of the same into said receptacle.

8. In combination, an elongated support, opposed stationary tracks on said support, a freezing device including a flexible tray and rigid walls therein having points of loose attachment to said tray locking same thereto against removal therefrom, said walls dividing the interior of said tray into compartments in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks, said tray of said device and walls locked therein together with ice blocks in said compartments being movable in an inverted position into supported association with said support, means on said tray of said device for engaging the opposed tracks on said support, said means cooperating with said tracks and rendered etfective solely in response to pushing said device in one direction along the support for twisting said tray first in one direction and then in the opposite direction While supported on said support to shift said rigid walls therein relative thereto about their loose attaching points for breaking a bond between said device and walls of said compartments whereby the ice blocks fall out of said device.

9. In combination, an elongated support, opposed stationary tracks on said support, a freezing device including a flexible tray and rigid Walls therein having points of loose attachment to said tray locking same thereto against removal therefrom, said walls dividing the interior of said tray into compartments in which water is to be frozen into ice blocks, said tray of said device and walls locked therein together with ice blocks in said compartments being movable in an inverted position into supported association with said support, means on one end only of the tray of said device and extending outwardly from sides thereof for engaging the opposed tracks on said support, a storage receptacle disposed below said support, said means cooperating with one inclined portion of said tracks and rendered effective solely in response to pushing said device in one direction along the support for twisting said oneend of said tray and bodily shifting said rigid walls therein relative thereto about their loose attaching points to break a bond between ice blocks and walls of said compartments, said means on said one end of said tray also cooperating with another portion of said tracks and rendered effective automatically in response to continued pushing of said device along the support in said one direction 0 qa fiiing said flexible tray to return "to a nonetwi'sted state while supported in said inverted position on said'support whereby the ice blocks may fall out of said ,devic'e into saithreceptacle, and means separate from and independentcof said tracks for holding the end of said tray opposite said one end thereof against being twisted while itw'istingmnd returning its said one end to a non-twisted state.

10. In combination, a unitary freezing device comprising a resilient tray having walls loosely anchored therein against detachment therefrom and bodily movable about their loose anchoring points relative to said tray, said device being adapted to contain a plurality of ice blocks separated by and bonded to said walls, a support for receiving and supporting said device, means associated with said support for effecting harvest of ice blocks from 1 said device, and said ice harvesting means first twisting said tray to bodily shift said walls with respect thereto for breaking the bond between said device and ice blocks therein and thereafter snapping said tray and flipping the ice blocks out of the device.

11. In combination, a support, a unitary freezing device adapted to be held by said support, said device commovable about their loose anchoring points relative thereto, said device being adapted to contain a plurality of separated ice blocks bonded thereto, means for flexing and 1 imparting a twist to said tray in one direction while the device is held by said support to bodily shift said walls 1 with respect to the tray to break the bond between ice 1 blocks and said device, and means rendered eifective by r continuing to twist said tray in said one direction for re- ;leasing the torsion thereof whereby it flips with a snap action back into a non-twisted state and tosses ice blocks out of said device.

:12. In combination, a unitary freezing device includ- 51 4 against detachment therefrom, said grid comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of spaced apart substantially inflexible walls extending transversely across :said partition, said transverse walls and said partition 'being interlocked together .for relative movement there- 'between while the grid is locked in said tray, said partition and said walls cooperating with said tray to divide the interior thereof into rows of compartments in which water is to be frozen into separated ice blocks, a supporting device adapted to receive and support said unitary freezing device, said freezing device together with said grid and ice blocks therein being rotatable and supported on said supporting device in an inverted position, means associated with one of said devices for effecting release of ice blocks from said inverted unitary freezing device while being supporting on said supporting device, and said ice block releasing means including means for causing ibodily shifting of said walls in said tray relative thereto and to said partition, while the unitary freezing device is invertedly supported on said supporting device, for mechanically breaking bonds between said freezing device and ice blocks therein whereby to remove the separated ice blocks downwardly out of their compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,066 Chase May 30, 1933 1,954,224 Piker -1 Apr. 10, 1934 1,973,033 Ashbaugh Sept. 11, 1934 2,036,784 Warneke Apr. 7, 1936 2,115,181 Shapiro Apr. 26, 1938 2,161,321 Smith June 6, 1939 2,244,081 Reeves June 3, 1941 2,429,882 Jennings Oct. 28, 1947 2,531,714 Van Lennep Nov. 28, 1950 2,558,015 Storer June 26, 1951 

